XL....MONEYSAVING IS NOT the be all & end-all-a lesson learnt

TRAVELMAN_2

Ynot 'there will be no problem with the accomodation because they paid for it.'....NOT TRUE...Medlife Hotels (who I know loads of companies such as Co-Op Travel etc used) were part of the xl.groip-many many people kicked out of accom. Now if the 'medlife' bit was part of an ATOL proteced package then the TOUR OPERATOR would have to re-house them-so to speak. Booked direct on the web-not thru a tour op-NO CHANCE. Money lost-no accom. If it was a family, say with 2 young kids...not worth the risk. Book a TOTAL ATOL protected package.

I agree SOME people will do it themselves. However...where do people find the time???! My best mates in the police-to quote him' I've got better things to do on my hard earned days off than spend hours saving a few quid on the web'....I'm sure many many people simply do not have the time.

noonesperfect

To Travelman

Last year we went to an absolutely first rate hotel (as part of a tailor-made) with an online company.
It wasn't offered by any of the "mainline tour operators" although it is part of Medhotels.

This was the first time I'd booked a holiday online BTW and was certainly about the best I've had (though I can't really get my head round paying separately for inflight meals and transfers LOL).

Sadly the holiday I booked this time has gone down the swanee, but I'm confident I will get a refund for the XL/Freedom flights (CAA forms all filled in) for around £400 as there was still quite a large balance to pay in February. Even tho we weren't going for 8 months most will actually be lost by cancelling the accommodation. Transfers were going to be booked nearer the time.

I feel so sorry for those who are caught up in this and those are still stuck abroad.

Oggyoi

make your bed, you lie in it - simple as.

I have booked holidays online, also still used a travel agents.
Went to Egypt last year, on my own, 2 weeks all inc for £450 all in - done through a travel agent.

If people choose not to make use of " experts" or extra protection, it is their choice.

How many go into Currys or Comet, buy a TV, washer or cooker and take out the extended warranty ?
If it breaks down after 13 months, it is your pocket the repairs or replacements come from.
I feel sorry for anyone stuck abroad with the prospect of having to buy airtickets for the family, so they can return home.

Must say though, I have always paid cash or debit card in the past, but in future will use credit cards, just to be on the safe side.

richardw

TRAVELMAN wrote: »

Now if the 'medlife' bit was part of an ATOL proteced package then the TOUR OPERATOR would have to re-house them-so to speak.

Perhaps there should be pay the hotel at check in legislation to secure the accomodation for their customers.

ynot2005

what do you mean not true!!!, if a holidaymaker is not in an XL group hotel then there accomodation is safe, thats true!

i have this image of mass panic abroad, with hundreds of holidaymakers being shunted about hotels, in the dark about return flights, total chaos, and no doubt in the end after days of stress and panic and a ruined holiday they will return home without it costing them anymore

whereas the independant travellers will sort out return flights at leisure to suit them, and enjoy their holiday, whilst watching the horror of an ATOL protected fiasco unfolding before their very eyes

"im an ATOL protected holidaymaker get me out of here"....yep you and thousands of others, sort it out yourself or wait.

TRAVELMAN_2

YNOT-you miss my point. The example was that if you'd booked with MEDLIFE directly you'd be knackered. If the MEDLIFE bit was part of a full ATOL package then the TOUR OPERATOR at their own cost would have to re-house the customers.

ynot2005

yes travel man, thats why i wrote

"if a holidaymaker is not in an XL group hotel then there accomodation is safe"

i know the point you are making and no doubt a small percentage of holidaymakers will lose out big time, but my point is that those who are protected by ATOL will no doubt be living the nightmare as i described

its not all about money, its someone else sorting things out for you with hundreds of others screaming at the same time, total panic if you ask me.

ATOL could be like a lead weight around stranded holidaymakers necks, they have paid for insurance and just wont want to walk away from it because they have paid for it.

this isnt a lesson to get ATOL protection, its a lesson when the stories appear in the media about the horror of an ATOL proteted holiday that you are best doing it yourself

Zoetoes

I went to a Travel Agents about a month ago to get a quote for Disneyland Paris, she quoted me £1,500 for 2 adults, a 14yr old and a 7 yr old, I priced it at £552 for flights and Disney, staying in a Disney hotel, same dates etc.

Why such a massive difference??

She tried to tell me that my price must be per person and I must have priced it wrong.

Eventually she got the price down to about £692 (miraculous!), and said it's a bit more than my quote but the 7 yr old would get........ an Autograph book!! whoopeee!

Needless to say I booked it myself.

She had a bit of a face on her as if I was wasting her time, as far as I'm concerned she wasted her own time by quoting me a grand more for the same thing.

pingu

Chris you can report what you want mse people are not stupid as you are:mad:

i wasn't really going to come to your house and give you a good kicking what a waste of petrol would that be:D

last 2 or could be 3 years i have tried to get a price from you but you could not beat the price

last year for the same hotel your price was about £300 more than k&s holidays(from teletext)

what you don't or didn't like as we all know that mse members did't book with you because you were expensive:mad:

this year i went with travel republic no problem next year who knows but one thing is for sure it won't be you or the companies you work for:D

payless

Chris when you arrange a " atol package" is that a classic package ( Thomson brochure type) , or can it be a package you put together - if latter is your firm classed as the "tour operator" .. if so what happens if

Flight supplier goes under ( do you cover it, or is a caa claim)
Your firm goes under - and the hotel says not been paid
Both go under
( I'm not picking on your firm- just asking out of interest)---

also note some popular sites that seem to sell packages- don't - they sell 2 separate elements even though they list a abta number .. would these be protected ?